A Baton Rouge cop killer is headed back to death row. A federal appeals court reversed an earlier judge's decision that said Kevan Brumfield is mentally retarded. The appeals court now believes BrumfieldMore >>

A Baton Rouge cop killer is headed back to death row. A federal appeals court reversed an earlier judge's decision that said Kevan Brumfield is mentally retarded. More >>

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -

A convicted cop killer is off death row after a ruling by an appeals court judge.

A 5th Circuit Court of Appeals judge upheld a federal court decision that Kevan Brumfield is mentally handicapped and cannot be put to death.

Brumfield was convicted in the 1993 killing of Betty Smothers Dunn, a Baton Rouge police officer and the mother of NFL player Warrick Dunn.

After his conviction, his defense claimed he was mentally handicapped, protecting him from execution.

Originally, a state judge ruled Brumfield was not mentally deficient and could be put to death, but a federal judge overturned that decision.